Gripping Zipper Securing Ring

ABSTRACT

A gripping zipper securing ring for use in securing a zipper includes a ring member having a first portion pivotally coupled to a second portion for movement between open and closed configurations. The first portion includes a locking arm having a plurality of teeth. The second portion includes a locking receiver configured to selectively receive the locking arm therein. A release mechanism is situated in the locking receiver that is selectively movable between a locked configuration at which the locking arm is not removable from the locking receiver and a released configuration in which the locking arm is removable therefrom. The release mechanism includes a user operable release member with which to move the release mechanism between locked and released configurations.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to zipper securing devices and, more particularly, to a gripping zipper securing ring that may be coupled to a zipper and then selectively tightened about a button of an article of clothing.

Drooping pants or an unzipped zipper opening as a result of a zipper that won't stay up may lead to embarrassing circumstances. Zippers that tend to open unintentionally may occur due to poor design or workmanship in a pair of pants or perhaps if the wearer is overweight and this condition may put pressure on the zipper assembly. In any case, the potential for this circumstance may cause a wearer to become self-conscious or worried that his pants may fall down, droop, or cause an undesirable and embarrassing situation.

Various devices have been proposed in the art for securing a zipper to a button on the waistband of a pair of pants or jeans. Although presumably effective for their intended purposes, the existing devices may not fit securely about the button of the pants to which they are attached, resulting in the securing device potentially becoming dislodged from attachment thereto and the zipper sliding down. This may be the result of the many variations in button sizes with which the zipper securing devices may be used.

Therefore, it would be desirable to have a zipper securing ring that is adjustable to securely attach to buttons of various sizes. Further, it would be desirable to have a zipper securing ring that requires an intentional act of a user to remove it from the button of an article of clothing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A gripping zipper securing ring according to the present invention includes a ring member having a first portion pivotally coupled to a second portion for movement between open and closed configurations. The first portion includes a locking arm having a plurality of teeth. The second portion includes a locking receiver configured to selectively receive the locking arm therein. A release mechanism is situated in the locking receiver that is selectively movable between a locked configuration at which the locking arm is not removable from the locking receiver and a released configuration in which the locking arm is removable therefrom. The release mechanism includes a user operable release member with which to move the release mechanism between locked and released configurations.

Therefore, a general object of this invention is to provide a zipper securing ring for securing a zipper to an article of clothing, such as to a waistband button.

Another object of this invention is to provide a securing ring, as aforesaid, that may be adjusted to grip buttons of various sizes.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a securing ring, as aforesaid, that is user-friendly to operate.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein is set forth by way of illustration and example, embodiments of this invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the gripping zipper securing device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention in use on an article of clothing;

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of the securing device as in FIG. 1 removed from the article of clothing and shown in an open configuration;

FIG. 2B is a perspective view of the securing device as in FIG. 1 shown in a closed configuration;

FIG. 3A is a side view of the securing device as in FIG. 2A;

FIG. 3B is a side view of the securing device as in FIG. 2B;

FIG. 4A is a top view of the securing device as in FIG. 3A;

FIG. 4B is a top view of the securing device as in FIG. 3B;

FIG. 5A is a side view as in FIG. 3A in which the locking receiver is partially broken open to illustrate the release mechanism in a locked configuration in relation to the locking arm teeth;

FIG. 5B is a side view as in FIG. 3A in which the locking receiver is partially broken open to illustrate the release mechanism in a released configuration in relation to the locking arm teeth;

FIG. 6A is an isolated view on an enlarged scale taken from a portion of FIG. 5A; and

FIG. 6B is an isolated view on an enlarged scale taken from a portion of FIG. 5B.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A gripping zipper securing ring according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4 b. The gripping securing ring 10 includes a ring member 12 having first 14 and second 30 annular portions and a release mechanism 46 for allowing movement of the ring member 12 between open and closed configurations.

The first 14 and second 30 portions of the ring member 12 each include proximal ends 16, 32, respectively, that are pivotally coupled together with a hinge 28 although other pivotal fasteners may also be used. Each of the first 14 and second 30 portions also include respective distal ends 18, 34 spaced apart from respective proximal ends 16, 32. The hinged construction enables the generally annular or concave shaped first 14 and second 30 portions to move between substantially open and closed configurations.

A locking arm 20 is attached to the distal end 18 of the ring member first portion 14 and extends away therefrom having a free end 26 (FIG. 2 a). The locking arm 20 continues the same generally annular configuration of the first portion 14. It is understood that the locking arm 20 and the first portion 14 may have a unitary construction. The locking arm 20 includes an outwardly facing side 22 (which may also be referred to as a forwardly facing edge) that defines a plurality of adjacently situated teeth 24.

A locking receiver 36 is attached to the distal end 34 of the ring member second portion 30 and extends away therefrom having a free end 38 (FIG. 2 a). The locking receiver 36 continues the same generally annular configuration of the second portion 30. It is understood that the locking receiver 36 and the second portion 30 may have a unitary construction. The locking receiver 36 defines a generally hollow interior area 40. Further, the locking receiver 36 defines an inlet 42 at the free end 38 thereof and an outlet 44 spaced therefrom, both of which are in operative communication with the interior area for receiving the locking arm 20 as will be described in greater detail later.

The release mechanism 46 is positioned in the locking receiver 36 and is selectively movable between a locked configuration that engages the locking arm teeth 24 so as to hold the locking arm 20 at a selected configuration when the locking arm 20 is inserted into the interior area of the locking receiver 36. More particularly, the release mechanism 46 includes a release member 47 or similar mechanism for receiving a user input force. Preferably, the release member 47 includes an outer portion 48 that extends through an outer surface of the locking receiver 36 or is otherwise positioned on that outer surface (FIGS. 5A and 5B). The release member 47 includes an inner portion 50 that extends into the interior area for selectively engaging the teeth 2 of locking arm 20 when the locking arm 20 is received into the locking receiver 36. The release mechanism 46, including the release member 47 and inner portion 50, are normally positioned to engage the teeth 24 of the locking arm 20 when the locking arm 20 is inserted into the locking receiver 36. The plurality of locking arm teeth 24 and the inner portion 50 have a ramped configuration such that the teeth 24 may be inserted past the inner portion 50 but may not return backwards. In other words, a user may push the locking arm 20 in a forward or insertion direction into the locking receiver 36 but the locking arm 20 is prevented from moving in a reverse or release direction. However, upon operation of the release member 47—such as by a sliding movement or even outward pivotal movement—the inner portion 50 is moved out of engagement with the locking arm teeth 24 and the locking arm 20 is free to move in a reverse or release direction. It is understood that the release member 47 and inner portion 50 may be spring biased toward the normally engaged configuration, such as with a spring steel, flexible plastic, or spring construction.

FIGS. 2A and 3A show the first 14 and second 30 portions in a generally open configuration and with the locking arm 20 in a released configuration. FIGS. 2B and 3B show the first 14 and second 30 portions in a generally closed configuration with the locking arm 20 inserted into the locking receiver 36 so that the teeth 24 are engaged with the release mechanism. The locking arm 20 is thereby prevented from being released. The free end 26 of the locking arm 20 is inserted into the inlet 42 and extends out of the outlet 44 in the engaged configuration.

The gripping zipper securing ring 10 includes a fastener 60 connect to the ring member first portion 14 that is configured to be coupled to a zipper on a pair of jeans or pants. The fastener 60 may be a metal ring although other fasteners such as clasp may be used. It is understood that the metal ring may include separated prongs that may be crimped together about the traditional hole in a zipper.

In use, the gripping zipper securing ring 10 may be coupled to the zipper 2 of a person's jeans or pants. This is accomplished by connecting the fastener 60 to the zipper 2 such as by crimping sections of the metal ring to the zipper 2. Then, when the zipper 2 is pulled upward adjacent a button 4 of the pants, the locking arm 20 of the ring member first portion 14 is inserted into the locking receiver 36 of the ring member second portion 30. The ring member 12 may then be clipped onto the button 4. Finally, the locking arm 20 should then be further inserted into the locking receiver 36 until the ring member 12 is tightly secured to the button 4. When a user desires to release the ring member 12, he may operate the release mechanism 46 as discussed above such that the locking arm 20 is released from the locking receiver 36.

It is understood that while certain forms of this invention have been illustrated and described, it is not limited thereto except insofar as such limitations are included in the following claims and allowable functional equivalents thereof. 

1. A gripping zipper securing ring for use in securing a zipper, comprising: a ring member having a first portion pivotally coupled to a second portion for movement between open and closed configurations, said first portion including a locking arm having a plurality of teeth, said second portion including a locking receiver having a configuration complementary to that of said locking arm so as to selectively receive said locking arm therein; and a release mechanism situated in said locking receiver that is selectively movable between an locked configuration that engages said locking arm teeth at a selected configuration and prevents removal of said locking arm from said locking receiver and a released configuration that disengages said locking arm teeth and allows said locking arm to be removed from said locking receiver.
 2. The gripping zipper securing ring as in claim 1, wherein: said ring member first portion includes a proximal end pivotally coupled to said ring member second portion and a distal end spaced apart from said first portion proximal end; said lever arm is coupled to said distal end of said ring member first portion and includes a outward edge defining said plurality of teeth.
 3. The gripping zipper securing ring as in claim 2, wherein: said ring member second portion includes a proximal end pivotally coupled to said proximal end of said ring member first portion and a distal end spaced apart from said second portion proximal end; said locking receiver is situated at said second portion distal end and defines a hollow interior area; said locking receiver defines an inlet at a free end thereof and an outlet spaced from said inlet, said inlet and outlet being in operative communication with said interior area.
 4. The gripping zipper securing ring as in claim 3, wherein: said release mechanism includes a release member having an outer portion extending through an outer surface of said locking receiver and an inner portion extending into said locking receiver interior area, wherein said inner portion is normally biased to engage a respective one of said plurality of locking arm teeth; and said release mechanism is configuration such that manual operation of said release member causes said outer portion to disengage from said plurality of teeth.
 5. The gripping zipper securing ring as in claim 4, wherein said ring member first and second portions are coupled together with a hinge.
 6. The gripping zipper securing ring as in claim 1, wherein said first and second portions include an annular configuration.
 7. The gripping zipper securing ring as in claim 4, further comprising a fastener coupled to said ring member first portion for attachment to said zipper.
 8. A gripping zipper securing ring for use in securing a zipper, comprising: a ring member having an annular first portion pivotally coupled to an annular second portion with a hinge for movement between open and closed configurations, said first portion including a locking arm having a plurality of teeth, said second portion including a locking receiver having a configuration complementary to that of said locking arm so as to selectively receive said locking arm therein; and a release mechanism situated in said locking receiver that is selectively movable between a locked configuration that engages said locking arm teeth at a selected configuration and that prevents removal of said locking arm from said locking receiver and a released configuration that disengages said locking arm teeth and allows said locking arm to be removed from said locking receiver.
 9. The gripping zipper securing ring as in claim 8, wherein: said ring member first portion includes a proximal end pivotally coupled to said ring member second portion and a distal end spaced apart from said first portion proximal end; said lever arm is coupled to said distal end of said ring member first portion and includes a outward edge defining said plurality of teeth.
 10. The gripping zipper securing ring as in claim 9, wherein: said ring member second portion includes a proximal end pivotally coupled to said proximal end of said ring member first portion and a distal end spaced apart from said second portion proximal end; said locking receiver is situated at said second portion distal end and defines a hollow interior area; said locking receiver defines an inlet at a free end thereof and an outlet spaced from said inlet, said inlet and outlet being in operative communication with said interior area.
 11. The gripping zipper securing ring as in claim 10, wherein: said release mechanism includes a release member having an outer portion extending outwardly through an outer surface of said locking receiver and an inner portion extending into said locking receiver interior area, wherein said inner portion is normally biased to engage a respective one of said plurality of locking arm teeth; and said release mechanism is configuration such that user manipulation of said release member causes said inner portion to disengage from said plurality of teeth. 